Ex-editor and her husband face court

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie appeared in court yesterday on charges relating to the phone-hacking scandal.

Mrs Brooks, 44, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, and Mr Brooks, 49, were in Southwark Crown Court in London for a 30-minute preliminary hearing. She faces three charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice, while her husband is charged with one count of the same offence. Mrs Brooks, who wore a black dress and black high heels, spoke only to confirm her name. She sat in the dock beside her husband, who wore a blue suit and pink tie.

The former News of the World editor is accused of removing boxes of material from the News International archive and trying to conceal documents, computers and other material from Scotland Yard’s inquiry into phone-hacking.

For the full story, pick up a copy of today’s Press and Journal or read our digital edition now